The Arndt Family: January 2012

Tuesday, January 24, 2012

Goodbye!

After almost 15 years, I am saying goodbye to one of my favorite possessions...a t-shirt that I've worn to bed at least 2 times per week since 1998! I don't know why I've kept it so long...because of how soft it is?...because my friend Beth dug it out of the garbage at the old VC laundry mat just for me?...or because I've always been too cheap to actually buy myself some pajamas?

Whatever the reason, I knew it was time to throw it away when, 1) Finley sadly said, "Mommy, you have a hole in your shirt...you should get some jammies!" 2) When Brent would give me a back rub he'd put more holes in it because it was slowly disintegrating (and I'd get upset at him for putting more holes in it). 3) Last night when I was up with AJ, his sticky hand got caught in one of the holes!

I guess for my 33 birthday, I can ask for some actual pajamas! :)

Goodbye old, gray, Hanes tee! :)

Sleep Deprivation

I have had some "blonde" moments over the last few days that I am chalking up to sleep deprivation!

First, I tried mailing a stack of bills with no stamps...and two blank "thank you" cards that I had not even written on yet. Thankfully, the mailman returned everything to us without even raising an eyebrow.

Then I went to K-Mart to buy cereal - on sale 5/$10. I got home and only had three boxes...so I went back to the store, waited in the customer service line, explained that I had purchased 5 boxes, but only had 3 when I got home. The service rep asked what lane I checked out of..."Lane 4"...so we walked over there and she saw my two boxes and asked to see my receipt. "OH...I forgot it at home." She promptly said, well I doubt you'd steal two boxes of cereal, and handed me the bag. When I got home I looked at my receipt and OMIGOODNESS...I only bought 3 boxes! How did that happen? I really DID steal two boxes! I went to K-Mart first thing Monday morning and paid for the two boxes...and the customer service rep thought she should make an announcement over the intercom about my honesty...or better yet, I should be on the front page of the Star News! She clearly missed the fact that I had stole them the day before and was just trying to save face so I could eat the cereal with a clear conscience!

I guess what I'm trying to say is...please pray that AJ would start to sleep like the big boy that he is! I don't know how much longer Brent and I can handle getting up with him 4-5 times per night! :)

Sunday, January 22, 2012

What's for Dinner?

AJ!

NO! But this little guy has enjoyed sitting in the "bongo" (as Finley calls it) and being a part of our nightly supper routine.

Quack Quack

Ace giving us a puppet show!

Special Ride

Before going home for "quiet time", Papa had to take the kids on a special ride...

Doesn't he look nice and warm!

Finley checking out the sleigh attached to the four-wheeler...

"HOLD ON"!

Going on a modern sleigh ride...

And loving every moment!

The boys watching Finley make a snow angel!

Beezer in the Pocket

Ace found the pockets in his pants, and taking a cue from Papa, handed out some "beezers"!

Getting Finley

Grandma helping Ace to get his hands back in his pockets!

And pointed him in the direction of Uncle J!

Taking a break and listening to a story from Nana about "when Daddy was a little boy"!

AJ's Dedication

We had AJ dedicated at church on the 15th. We've been blessed to have both of our families attend all three kiddos dedications!

Photo attempt before church!

Pretty good!

This one makes me laugh too...typical, right? Ace is making a face, Finley is being silly, and AJ is chewing on his hands!

Not much better!

Brent and I have also been blessed by so many friendships at church. We have had all three kiddos dedicated with another family at church. They are very important to all of us, and even though we don't see each other very often, we know that they would be (and are) always there for us - and we're always there for them!

That Sunday in church AJ cried and cried and cried! Brent and I were both stressed and wondering what we should do. Do we take him out to the lobby? Do we take him up to the nursery? Or do we just wait it out and let him scream at the front of church too? Well...we waited it out and wouldn't you know it, as soon as we got to the front, he stopped crying! He actually smiled almost the entire time at Pastor B! God is so faithful...and I know I need to do a better job at being patient on His timing, not mine!

Pastor B always does such a great job, and I wish I could remember everything that he said to all of us that morning, but one thing will always stand out to me (and Brent too I think). He said that our families have gone from "man to man defense to zone". How true is that?!? And how comforting is that!?! I am not walking alone in the journey of parenthood, I always have Brent by my side. Brent and I both grew up playing basketball so I think this is why I'll always remember his comment...I must confess that while I was playing I always preferred to play zone. Partly for a rest, but also because I knew I had four other players on my side that had my back. So the fact that Brent and I are "playing zone" is a comfort too. When one of us is tired, the other picks up the slack; when one makes a mistake, the other helps to regroup; and, as always, God is at the "center" of it all!